Virat Kohli : The team has 120% faith in Hardik Pandya

Virat Kohli has heaped praise on Hardik Pandya for his performance on his Test debut against Sri Lanka, saying that his performances speak for themselves. The Indian skipper also added that the team never doubted the 23-year-old’s abilities and allowed him to go and express himself freely.

Hardik Pandya made quite a sensational Test debut in the recently concluded series against Sri Lanka, having managed 178 runs from three innings at an average of 59.33, which included a fifty and a hundred with the bat and also 4 wickets with the ball.

At the post-match press conference, Kohli appreciated the youngster’s efforts, saying, “I don't think I need add any more lines, his performance has spoken for itself. People might have problems with the kind of demeanor he has or the belief he carries with himself, but we, certainly in the team, have no doubts on that. We let him be who he is, we let him express himself. You know, a guy who can get a fifty and a hundred in his first three games batting at No.8 has to have something special in him.”

While Pandya had managed to score a half-century on his debut in the second Test at the SSC in Colombo, what made his century in the third Test special was the fact that India were in trouble at 320 for 6 when he came into bat. But the 23-year-old curbed his attacking instincts at that stage and carved out partnerships with India’s lower order, before switching gears towards the end of his innings, and Kohli had a special word of praise for the kind of temperament that the 23-year-old showed, as he said, “And the innings that he played here, after being 320 for 6, it wasn't just mad slogging. He actually used his brain and batted with the tail which I think is a great sign for us. He brings in great balance to the team, he's a good fielder and he gives you those crucial breakthroughs, he's very handy with the ball and we know what he can do with the bat as well. All doubts aside from the outside, inside the team we absolutely have 120% faith in him.”